An illustrated, accessible introduction to filmmaking from a Hollywood screenwriter, producer, script consultant, and film school professor
Bringing a film to life requires skills in storytelling, the visual arts, logistics, and more. This book presents many critical principles of filmmaking, including:
How to structure and pitch a screenplay
How to make visible the invisible, such as backstory, motivation, and inner psychology
Why it's best to keep your characters plunging into the unknown
The difference between plot, story, and theme
How to compose a frame visually
How to manage finances, schedules, set logistics, sound, and lighting
Why many films drag in Act 2, and what to do about it